Subject: Material culture

Brass object of unknown origin and purpose. The object's date is uncertain, although the donor's information suggests a possible date of 1910. Additional information is needed to clarify the date and purpose.

A single-page ledger sheet listing household items, possibly for auction. The items include bellows and bake pans. The list appears to be from circa 1822 and was found with the Tobias Archive. The handwriting is similar to that found in item 17-1137T, which also lists household items.

Civil War-era meat cleaver stamped "J. Levy, 96 Vesey St., N. Y." The blade has an ornate shape with fancy cut edges, and the handle is made of layered leather rings. The blade extends the full length of the handle and is hammered over at the end. The cleaver is in excellent condition with no cracks or breaks. Jacob Kohn, a Bavarian immigrant who arrived in the 1840s, was the superintendent of a Confederate shoe factory in Montgomery before taking it over after the war. It subsequently became one of the largest factories in the South during Reconstruction.

Shaving mug and brushes inscribed "Jefferson M. Levy," along with associated materials. The shaving mug, distributed by E. Berninghause of Cincinnati (circa 1890-1910), was at Monticello during Jefferson M. Levy's ownership and later given to Thomas Rhodes, caretaker and restorer of Monticello. The collection also includes documents tracing the ownership of the items through several hands, from Jefferson M. Levy and Thomas Rhodes to the Greenberger family and finally to Bess-Mae Jones, who sought a Jewish institution for their preservation. The collection further details the history of the Levy family's connection to Monticello, including the roles of Uriah P. Levy and Jefferson M. Levy in preserving the estate. Additional materials relate to Captain Jonas P. Levy, father of Jefferson M. Levy, his contributions to the Peruvian Navy, and his role in advocating for American Jews during the negotiation of a trade treaty with Switzerland in 1850.